Filling device or valve for storage batteries or other receptacles.



M. R HUTGHISON.

' FILLING DEVICE 08 VALVE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES OR OTHER RECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY18. I914 MILLER REESE'HUTGHISON, OF "WEST ORANGE,NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EDISOE' STORAGE BATTERY COMPAE'Y, OF WESTORANGE, fNEWdERSEY, A OOKPDRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FILLING DEVICE on VALVE roE-s'ronAeE Bar'rEnIEs on o'rHE nEcErraopEs.

- newest,

Application filed July 18, 1914.' Serial No. 851,765.

- ceptacles, of which the following is a description.

My present or means for filling or replenishing cells of storagebatteries or other receptacles, and

'more particularly for filling or replenishing cells of storagebatteries, equipped with safety devices or tra s, such as-disclosed inPatent No. 1,130,97 granted to me on IMarch 9, 1915 and entitled Safetydevice.

While the filling of these cells may be carried out through the safetydevice or trap itself, as set forth in detail in my patent cited above,if a vent or vents is or are provided for the escape of theair or gases,such filling will necessaril be slow and, furthermore, this method 0filling does not readily permit the determination of the moment when theproper level of the liquid within the cell or container has beenreached. On the other hand, itis necessary-not only to periodicallyreplenish the water contained in the safety device or trap but also towash back into the cell the materiah'such as caustic potash, depositedin the safety device by the evolution of gases or bubbles, incidentaltothe charging of the cell.

My invention provides a ready and con venient means for filling thesecells of storage batteries or other receptacles, and more particularlycells equipped with a safety de'. vice or trap such as that described inmy patent above referred to, and for carrying out this operation in anespecially speedy manner. In order to avoid overflowing of theelectrolyte, I prefer to make'use, in conjunction with the fillingdevice described in this specification, of an improved signaling device,forming part of the invention, which is constructed and arranged in sucha manner as to insure reliable and certain working.

. "In order to more clearly explain and dc fine my invention, referenceis made'to the accompanying drawing forming part-of this specification,and which re resents a cross section of 'my' invention app ied to astorage battery cell equipped with the safety device Specification ofLetters Patent.

invention relates to a device Patented Aug. is, 1918.

or trap forming the subject matter ofmy patent above mentioned.

In said drawing, numeral 1 represents a chamber or case of metal, suchas steel, brass, lead or any other suitable metal or alloy, whichcommunicates by the pi e or nipple 2 with a source of supply 0 liquidused for filling or replenishingthe cell, such as astorage vessel or awater main.

The bottom of the chamber is provided with an aperture or orifice 3 ofsuitable di- .mensions',' which is normally closed by a valve 4:. Thisvalve which may have a body the portion provided with a washer or collar5 v of rubber or another elastic material, is held in position with thewasher or collar 5' pressed tightly against the lower surface of theannular inwardly projecting flange 6 by a strong spring 7. The valve isalso pro vided with a stem 8 which, passing through the stufling box 9in the top of the chamber 1, terminates in a handle or knob ldof wood orany other suitable material. Numeral 11 represents a second chamber,also of a suitable metal, which is adapted to .com-

municate with the interior of the cell A to be filled by means of thetubular connection or .pipe .12, the chamber v11 being in addi-. tionprovided with an overflow or spigot 13, the outlet of which is soarranged as to be normally located directly above the aperture of thesafety device or trap.

When it is desired to fill or replenish a storage battery cell, the capof the filling opening 14: usually provided in these cells is removedand the tube 12 inserted in said opening, which is commonly of asleeve-like construction, as shown. -T e upper part of the tube 12carries a tapering plug 15 which is adapted to rest against the neck ofopening 14. The plug 15 is formed of metal and is insulated from themetallic walls of the chamber 11 and pipe 12 by a bushing 16 of hardrubber or other insulatin material. This metal plug is also provide with'a number of vents 17 for the purpose of permitting the air to escapeduring the filling. The operation of the device is as follows: After myimproved apparatus has been'inserted in the filling aperture of the celland placed in such a position that the outletrof the overflow or spigot13 is immediately above the mouth or inlet of the safety-device B, thehinged cover b of which has been opened and the inlet pipe 2 isconnected with. the supply source of the liquld, by means of a flexiblehose 18 or the like, the handle is depressed. The liquid now passes fromchamber 1 into chamber 11 and from there through the feed tube 12 intothe interionof the cell A, and simultaneously, by way of the overflowand spigot 15 into the safety device or trap B and through the openings19, and-21 1n the said trap into the cell. By increasing or lesseningthepressure applied to the handle 10, so as to depress the same more orless, the flow of the liquid into the chamber 11 can be regulated,admitting a larger or smaller amount of the liquid, and if so desired,the flow. through the spigot may be made to cease altogether byadmitting liquid in no greater quantity than can be carried away by thefeed pipe 12. The overflow or spigot 13 may be provided with a cock orvalve 22 for the purpose of rendering the same inoperative, if desired.

In order to readily determine the moment when the proper level of liquidin the cell has been reached, and to revent an overflow of theelectrolyte with its entailing dangers and inconveniences, an alarm orsignal system is provided. This alarm or signal system preferablyconsists of an electric circuit 23, comprising a dry cell 24 or thelike,

and a bell, buzzer, or any other kind of signal 25. The conductin wiresof this circuit are attached, as by bin ing screws 26 and 27 providedfor this purpose to the walls of the chamber 11 and to the taperingmetallic plug 15, which, as hereinbefore stated, is insulated from therest of the filling device by a bushing 16 of non-conductive material.As will be readily seen, no current passes through the circuit until thelevel of the electrolyte reaches the lower'end of the tube 12, but assoon as this happens, the tube 12 is electrically connected by theelectrolyte to the metallic casing of cell A, and as the said tube andcasing are electrically connected to the chamber 11 and the plug 15respectively, the circuit 23 is closed and the signal 25 set inoperation, thus indicating the completion of the filling operation. Tosafeguard against accidental closing of the circuit, as for instance, bythe end of the feed tube 12 "coming into contact with the parts of thecell the end of the pipe or tube 12 is provided with a ring or collar 28of hard rubber or other non-conductive material.

From the above description it will readily be seen that I have, by thisinvention, provided a safe and speedy filling device for cells ofstorage batteries and other receptacles of liquids. With my invention,the filling may be carried out veryrapidly, as a considerable pressureof the supply li uid may be emplo ed. Furthermore, the rep enishing ofthe iquid in the safety device and the replacing of the potash or othermaterial. deposited therein is carried out simultaneously with thefilling of the cell, thus materially simplifying the operation. Thespecial arrangement of the signaling device hereinbefore describedinsures a comparatively high degree of safety against misworking of thesame, by an accidental closing of the current before the proper level ofthe electrolyte has been reached, a very frequent occurrence withsimilar devices suggested for the purpose.

While, in the foregoing, I have described and set forth my invention indetail, I desire it to be expressely understood that I may modify thesame as to shape, dimensions and arrangement, Without departing from thespirit of said invention, and while the apparatus is principallyintended for the filling and replenishing of cells of storage batteries,it is by no means restricted to use with the same, but may be employedfor filling and replenishing various other kinds of receptacles. Whenused for purposes other than the filling and replenishing of cells ofthe type described in my patent hereinbefore referred to, the spigotprovided for the purpose of renewing the liquid in the safety device andaccelerating the filling operation, may be closed by the plu or cock 22or by a valve especiallyprovided for that purpose, or the flow of liquidfrom said s igot ma be directed to a separate receptac e or bac to thestorage vessel. 1

Having now described my invention, what I' claim as new anddesire toprotect by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A filling device for storage battery and other receptacles,comprising a chamber, and a plurality of pipes extending from saidchamber for effecting communication of said chamber with the interior ofthe receptacle, said pipes and chamber being so arranged that the ipes,during normal operation of said device, simultaneously convey fluid fromsaid chamber and introduce such fluid into said receptacle at differentpoints, substantially as described.

2. A filling device for storage battery and other receptacles,comprising a chamber adapted to communicate with the supply source ofliquid and provided with an aperture, a valve for said aperture, meansfor operating said valve, a second chamber communicating with the firstchamber by means of said aperture, and a plurality of pipes extendingfrom said second chamber for eflec'ting communication of the latter Withthe interior of the receptacle, said pipes and second chamber being soarranged that the pipes, when said valve is fully opened, willsimultaneously convey liquid from said second chamber into thereceptacle, substantially as described.

The combination with a container having a filling opening and a safetydevice or trap, of a filling device for said container comprising achamber, means for conveying fluid from said chamber to the interior ofthe container through said filling opening, and means for simultaneouslyconveying fluid from said chamber to the interior of the containerthrough said safety device or trap, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a container having a filling opening and asafety device or trap, of a filling device for said container,comprising a chamber and means for simultaneously supplying fluid fromsaid chamber to the interior of said container through said fillingopening and through said safety device or trap, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a container having a filling opening, of afilling device for said container comprising a chamber, a conduitleading from said chamber and adapted for insertion in the saidcontainer through said opening, and supporting means for said devicesecured to said conduit and arranged to rest on said container aboutsaid opening, said supporting means being provided with venting meansfor the container, substantially as described.

6. A filling device for storage battery and other receptacles,comprising a hollow conductive member adapted to be inserted into thereceptacle, conductive supporting means for said device secured to andinsulated from this 16th da said hollow member and arranged to rest uponthe receptacle, said hollow member and supporting means being adaptedfor connection in an electric circuit, and insulating means surroundingand-secured to said hollow member adjacent its lower end, substantiallyas described.

7. A filling device for storage battery and other receptacles,comprising a chamber, a pair of conduits leading from said chamber forfeeding liquid to the receptacle, and unitary means controllable toeffect the feeding of liquid from said chamber to the receptacle throughone or simultaneously through both of said conduits as desired,substantially as described. 8. The combination with a container having afilling opening and a safety device or trap, of a filling device forsaid container comprising a chamber, means for supplying fluid from saidchamber to the interior of said container through said filling opening,and means for simultaneously supplying a comparatively small quantity offluid from said chamber to the interior of said container through saidsafety device or trap, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed of July, 1914. MILL R REESEHUTCHISON. Witnesses: FREDERICK BACHMANN,

MARY J. LAIDLAW.

